Love on the Line

by Aares, Pamela

  He slid his arms around her and snuggled her against his chest. “I might take issue with that.” He buried his face in her hair, inhaling the intoxicating scent of her.

  He eyed the bed and ran his hand along the curve of her waist. She batted his hand away.

  “Breakfast,” she said with a glint. “And then I’ll think about whether I’m joining your team.”

  “Our team,” he said. “But with love on the line, maybe we should call out for delivery.”

  “It’s the country, Ryan. They don’t deliver breakfast, in case you haven’t noticed.” The mischievous twinkle returned to her eyes. “And I’m holding out until I see that donkey.”

  Epilogue

  One year later.

  Cara put the finishing touches on the tray of Asian spring rolls and placed it beside the others spread on the kitchen counter. Everything was ready, everything except maybe her.

  She wiped her palms on the denim apron she’d worn to keep the worst of the mess off her slacks and tucked an errant strand of hair behind her ear. The chorus of voices floating in from the nearest paddock told her that the donkeys were a big hit with their families and guests.

  “I thought we might find you in here.” Jackie Brandon blazed into the cavernous kitchen followed by a troupe of women Cara had come to treasure as friends.

  “Chained to the kitchen?” Alana Tavonesi, Alex’s cousin, chided. “I’ve brought olives, still warm from the oven. I baked them with rosemary from our ranch. That’s for remembrance, you know.”

  She did know. But she didn’t need rosemary to remind her of the blissful happiness she’d discovered.

  “Where’s the guest of honor?” Chloe McNalley, Scotty’s wife, bounded into the kitchen. “It’s been a week since I’ve seen him. I’m lined up for admiration duty.”

  “You’ll have to fight my mother for that privilege.” Cara laughed. “Or Ryan’s mother. I’m not sure which of them is more formidable.”

  “I’m tough,” Chloe said as she reached for one of the spring rolls and popped it into her mouth. “These are delicious. Don’t tell me you can cook.”

  “Ryan made them. Hors d’oeuvres and desserts are his specialty.”

  Chloe laughed. “Maybe he can teach Scotty. He’s still at featherweight chef level one—champagne and ramen noodles.”

  “Breakfast of champions,” Alex Tavonesi said as he walked in and snitched one of the carefully arranged spring rolls.

  “You’re all ruining my artwork,” Cara said, batting Alex’s hand away as he reached for a second roll.

  Alex glanced around the kitchen. “Where is the guest of honor?”

  “If Ryan had had his way, you would’ve been guest of honor,” Cara said.

  In Ryan’s mind, Alex was the one who’d suggested he look for land in Albion Bay and therefore was responsible for bringing Cara and Ryan together. Ryan had invited the entire Tavonesi clan to the party. He’d also invited every player on the Giants. She was still getting used to being surrounded by people who loved their lives, people who pursued their dreams with an energy that inspired and fascinated her and lifted her.

  “Glad someone has their priorities straight.” Alex grinned and devoured another spring roll before she could stop him.

  Cara swallowed down the lump of emotion rising in her throat and untied her apron. “Maybe we should head down to the paddocks and find out. But I’m warning you, Alex, watch out for my dad. He’s still pissed we’re not having this party at the Pacific-Union Club.”

  Sabrina, Alex’s sister, sailed into the kitchen. “Did I hear difficult dad? Turn him over to Alana; he’ll never know what hit him.”

  Alana gave her cousin Sabrina a look that could be interpreted only as lovingly mock offense. Then she pulled a bottle of wine from a bag and proceeded to deftly uncork it. “Before we head out, how about a toast?” She poured a rose-colored liquid into the wine glasses that Cara had previously lined up on a tray. “My first vintage. A rose Pinot.”

  “And what are we toasting?” Chloe asked as she took the glass Alana handed her.

  “Well, we could toast Sabrina’s new film deal,” Alana said with a twinkle. “Or we could toast Scotty and Chloe’s upcoming anniversary—”

  “Or we could toast your guest of honor,” Jackie interrupted, shooting a wink at Alex. “After all, he’s the cutest baby on the planet.”

  “To the guest of honor,” Alex boomed. He turned to Jackie. “And don’t get any ideas. At least not until spring.”

  They trooped out of the kitchen and down the path to the paddock.

  Sam and Molly Rivers were feeding carrots to Liza and her foal. Both donkeys looked splendid in the garlands of roses and greens that Molly had brought as a surprise. Sam had his hands full keeping the foal from nibbling the inhaler he had strapped in a leather case on his belt and from eating the roses on Liza’s garland.

  Belva and Perk had Cara’s dad cornered. From the look of her finger wag, Belva was giving him a full-on dose of Albion Bay common sense.

  Ryan stood off to one side with his dad, Quinn, Cain, and Matt Darrington, Alana’s newly wedded husband. From their gestures, Cara suspected they were planning a fishing outing. She hoped they planned to take her.

  And though Ryan’s dad had scoffed during his first visit at the over-the-top barn Ryan had built for the donkeys, and nearly had an apoplectic fit over the heaters, after two days on the ranch this visit he was clucking over the animals like they were his own.

  Cara’s mother and Ryan’s stood near the tiered fountain that served as the donkey’s water trough, with their backs turned, oblivious to their surroundings.

  As the procession from the house reached the paddock, Ryan looked up and the smile he beamed at Cara melted her bones. She was sure no one had a better husband than she did, although several of Ryan’s teammates could give a good run for a close second.

  “I wondered if you’d forgotten us,” he said as he reached to take her hand.

  “Fat chance,” Alana chimed in before Cara could respond. “We were inside rehearsing our toasts.”

  Ryan leaned down and brushed a kiss to Cara’s cheek. “I know one toast that I’ll be giving in private,” he whispered against the curve of her ear. The shiver of anticipation had her wishing the party was over.

  Perk clapped his hands and called the gathering to attention.

  It occurred to Cara that Perk would make a great general or field marshal. Maybe he had been one. With all the hubbub of setting up her foundation office in the spacious cabin Ryan had built with the help of Alex and Matt on the east slope of the ranch, the work with Alston to do what they could to expose Dray Bender and keep him from stealing some other unsuspecting philanthropist’s funds, and the effort to get the county’s approval for the clinic fast-tracked, she hadn’t had the time yet to find out all she wanted to know about her neighbors. But she wasn’t going anywhere; she had plenty of time to discover what made her friends the wonderful people they were.

  Perk spread his arms to the gathered family and friends. “I understand that there are among us some who think that the city would’ve been a more proper place to hold this ceremony.” He glared at Cara’s dad who, to his credit, smiled. “But if it hadn’t been for the good town of Albion Bay, we wouldn’t be here celebrating today.” He winked at Belva. Cara was surprised to see the old lady blush. “Now, I’m no minister, but with the rights vested in me as mayor, I’d like to get this shindig started. Ladies?” He looked over to where Ryan’s and Cara’s mothers stood huddled together at the fountain, paying him no mind. He cleared his throat and bellowed, “Ladies, might we have the guest of honor, please?”

  Cara’s mother turned, blushing. Ryan’s mother flushed too.

  “I beg your pardon,” Cara’s mother said as she walked over to where Perk stood. “We were occupied with our grandson.”

  “I realize he has more charm than me,” Perk said in a softer voice. “But you can’t have a christening without a cere
mony. And you sure can’t have one without the babe.”

  Perk’s words had to compete with the warmth flooding Cara’s body as she and Ryan reached out to take Casey into their joined arms. Their son looked up at them and gave a gummy smile, his eyes wide with wonder.

  As Perk concluded the ceremony, Liza escaped Sam’s grasp and wandered over to lean against Ryan. Casey’s curious eyes fixed on Liza’s fuzzy ears, and he nearly wriggled from their grasp trying to reach for them.

  They moved to the barn for the reception. The caterer they’d hired from Point Reyes served a meal made from the bounty from Cara and Ryan’s garden. Bustling servers uncorked and served champagne.

  Cara sat with Ryan’s sister, Eve, at a table near one wall and jiggled Casey on her lap, tapping her foot to the music of the band of locals they’d hired to play. She watched, intrigued, as the new clinic doc squared off with Cain and managed to coax a dance from Molly. They’d outfitted the old dentist office and hired an around-the-clock medical staff. Until the new clinic was completed next year, at least they had a team in place for the interim.

  When Alana’s handsome brother Simon cut in and whisked Molly to the center of the dancers, Cara had to smile. Molly had reentered the world of romance, and it looked like she was going to have a good run at finding a man to share her life. And even though love had its shock, its bite, its ways to surprise and disrupt, she was pretty sure Molly was up to the challenge. Actually welcomed the challenge.

  Molly was doing an admirable job of not being star struck over Alex’s sister, Sabrina. Sabrina’s second film had made her a sensational box office draw, and she’d become the new darling in Hollywood.

  Cara had to admire the way Sabrina took the fame and fuss in stride. More than once they’d talked about the challenges of living in the public eye. Cara had realized that her own challenges paled when held up to the ones faced by Sabrina. The previous week she’d been grabbed by a zealous photographer and now had her arm in a sling as a result of the man’s assault. Though Sabrina laughed off her brother’s concern that she had only two months to recover and get in shape for an action film, Cara saw the pain and worry in her eyes. She’d joked that she could be a wounded heroine, that maybe the world was ready for reality. Alex told her not to count on it.

  The musicians announced a short break, and Ryan stepped up to the stage. He clinked a knife to his glass, waving everyone quiet.

  “I have a surprise.” He paused and several people groaned at him milking the drama. “A surprise for the beautiful mother of our son.”

  He jogged to the side door of the barn, flicked a switch, and it opened on its track. There, strung with tiny white Christmas lights, was a brand new school bus with a red bow across its door.

  Everyone cheered. Even Perk, who wasn’t one for surprises. Cara suspected he’d been in on the planning of this one.

  “But since Molly’s the one who’ll be driving it,” Ryan said as he turned to look across the room to Cara, “with your permission, perhaps she should cut the ribbon?”

  Cara laughed and nodded.

  Molly had to be prodded to the front of the group by Belva. She took the scissors Ryan held out and snipped the red cord.

  Over the applause of their guests, Ryan clinked a knife to the edge of his glass once again. “And now I have a confession.” His tone was nearly somber.

  He held out his hand for Cara.

  Casey giggled as she handed him into Eve’s outstretched arms.

  Ryan held her in a gaze that burned with heat and passion as she walked up to the stage.

  He wrapped his arm around her waist and raised his glass. “I’ve learned a lesson that most of you all probably already knew. I was just a bit slow to catch on.” He tugged Cara closer. “When love’s in the game, losing is never an option.”

  The group cheered as he met her lips with his.

  Home.

  Held in Ryan’s arms, Cara finally recognized what it felt like to be home.

  <<<<>>>>

  Thank you!

  Thanks for reading Love on the Line. I hope you enjoyed it!

  · Would you like to know when my next books are available? You can sign up for my new release newsletter at http://www.pamelaaares.com/newsletter-signup/ to find out about future books as soon as they are released!

  · You've just read the fourth book in the Heart of the Game series. The other books in the series are:

  Love Bats Last (Book #1, Alex and Jackie)

  Thrown By Love (Book #2, Chloe and Scotty)

  Fielder's Choice (Book #3, Alana and Matt)

  Aim for Love (Book #5, Laz and Sabrina, available summer 2014)

  · You, the reader, have the power to make or break a book’s reputation. Reviews help other readers find books they love. I appreciate reviews from all perspectives and would love to hear your opinion. If you have the time, please leave a review and let me know what you think about Love on the Line.

  I write so that readers may enjoy the experience of reading my books. I hope you enjoy every one! And stay tuned, there’s more of the Tavonesi clan ahead.

  Thank you so much for reading and for spending time with me.

  In gratitude,

  Pamela Aares

  Another winner in Pamela Aares' Heart of the Game series. Get ready to enter the fast-paced world of alpha male, All-Star athletes and the top-of-their-game women they come to love.

  Aares deftly weaves together the desires and strategies of world-class sports with the equally charged realm of the heart to create a fast-moving tale you'll wish would never end.

  Mary Beath, award-winning author of

  Refuge of Whirling Light

  And don’t miss…

  Other Books by Pamela

  Book One in the Heart of the Game series

  A stormy night changes their lives forever...

  The baseball diamond isn't the only field for all-star player Alex Tavonesi; he also runs his family's prestigious vineyard. What he can't seem to run is his love life. He's closing in on the perfect vintage and the perfect game, but so far the perfect woman has eluded him.

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  A chance meeting in a midnight storm brings Alex and Jackie together to rescue a stranded whale. Watching her work, he realizes she's the passionate, courageous woman he thought he'd never find--he just has to overcome her deep distrust of jocks. Jackie’s passion and courage lead her to discover what's killing the sea mammals. The culprits want to silence her, and Alex is the only one standing in their way. What will he sacrifice to save the woman he loves?

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  Click here to buy Love Bats Last

  Book Two in the Heart of the Game series

  A kiss in a dark alcove triggers the greatest challenge of their lives...

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  Chloe loves teaching, but she's never fit into academia. When she falls for Scotty, she discovers his arms and heart are where she belongs. They share a passion for the game, a fascination for the mysteries of the universe and an increasing love for one another.

  Then Chloe inherits Scotty's new team. As player and team owner, they shouldn't be dating. They try to hide their passion, until a blackmailer threatens them personally and professionally. Exposure could be the end of everything--Scotty's career, Chloe's team ownership, and their new love—unless they find a way to transcend the taboo standing between them.

  Thrown By Love is available online as a print or eBook at all of your favorite booksellers.
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br />   Click here to buy Thrown By Love

  Book Three in the Heart of the Game series

  When love’s the game, you can’t play it safe…

  All-Star shortstop Matt Darrington has more than a problem. His wife died, and now he’s juggling a too-smart-for-her-britches six-year-old and the grueling pace of professional baseball. Worse, his daughter is mom shopping. When they explore a local ranch, she decides the beautiful, free-spirited tour guide is premium mom material. Matt thinks the sexy guide looks like Grade-A trouble.

  Alana Tavonesi loves her cosmopolitan life in Paris. But when she inherits the renowned Tavonesi Olive Ranch, she has to return to California and face obligations she never wanted. Selling the place is her first instinct, but life at the ranch begins to crack her open, exposing the dreams hidden inside her heart.

  On a lark she leads a ranch tour, where she meets Matt Darrington. His physical power and a captivating sensual appeal fire her in a way no man ever has, but he has a kid—and being a stepmom is a responsibility Alana will never be ready for. Still... she can’t keep her mind or her hands off him.

  When Matt’s daughter goes missing from a kid’s camp at the ranch, Alana organizes the search effort, knowing from experience the areas a bright child would be drawn to explore. As she and Matt work together to search for the little girl, Alana discovers that father and daughter have won her heart. Yet it may be too late for love…

  Fielder's Choice is available online as a print or eBook at all of your favorite booksellers.